Thyroid FNA Severe Complications

Hi,

I thought I would leave a brief version of my story so as to help someone doing research.

I had had an MRI for my neck several years earlier which spotted some nodules on my thyroid. The recommendation was to have a biopsy but I never did. Several years later I felt a huge lymph node in the area so I became concerned. I had an ultrasound and the.5 thyroid nodules were stable but now I had a 2.7 cm swollen lymph node and the recommendation was that both be biopsied by FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration).

I had the FNA done on my thyroid and lymph node and immediately, on the way home I started having shortness of breath. I thought that perhaps it was swelling and I put some ice and lay down but that did not help. It was horrible for days and days every 10 to 15 minutes I was gasping for air. It would take six or seven deep gasps to get a breath that was satisfying. Finally I called my doctor and he said I had to go to the ER because there was no reason I should have that shortness of breath. I went to the ER they did a CT scan and blood tests an x-ray and everything came out normal. Flash forward to six months later I am still having severe pain in the area of the FNA. I am miserable I have a choking feeling that never leaves me. Do not do this test unless you absolutely have no other choice. After doing some research I found this rare side effect is not so rare after all.

What really kills me, is that the.5 nodules should not have even been biopsied in the first place. I was told by subsequent doctor said it was so small that biopsy should not have been recommended. And only a few days later when I had the CT scan they said the lymph node was not even there anymore! So I did this to myself for no reason at all which makes me so angry. After the ER visit it took about one week but every day the breathing got a little bit better. Instead of six or seven gasps to get air it would turn into 4 or 5, then two or three, then one or two until finally my breathing became normal.

I went to an ENT and he said it could be scar tissue in there. I am completely miserable and so sorry I had this done.

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